'Dexter,' 'Homeland' Ratings Set Showtime Records

As "Homeland" and "Dexter" approach their season finales, more viewers than ever are tuning in to Showtime's Sunday night scripted programming. Both series aired their highest-rated episodes ever on Sunday, Dec. 9, setting a number of Showtime ratings records.

"Dexter" attracted 2.6 million viewers at 9 p.m., scoring the highest ratings ever for a Showtime original series telecast. Combined with later showings, "Dexter" landed a total nightly audience of 3.06 million viewers, breaking another Showtime ratings record previously held by the series' Season 4 finale. "Dexter" ratings increased 25 percent over the previous week with Season 7 entering its home stretch.

"Homeland" set its own record, attracting 2.36 million viewers at 10 p.m. The numbers surpassed last week's episode, which notched 2.2 million viewers, to become the series' most watched episode to date. The total night ratings landed 2.6 million viewers, setting another "Homeland" record.

The season finales of both series air Sunday night, Dec. 16, with "Dexter" starting at 9 p.m. and "Homeland" at 10.